The New Orleans Regional Transit Authority has replaced old streetcar bulbs with new LED lights to avoid accidents.RTA spokesman Derrick Breun said the new LED headlights are five times brighter than the old bulbs. He said the agency is hoping that the new lights will be hard for people to miss."Too often people don't realize it's a streetcar and make a left turn. We do have the right of way and next thing you know you have an accident," Breun said.Last September, a child was hit by a streetcar when he broke free from his mother's grasp. The child survived but authorities said it's just one of many accidents over the years.Drivers said negotiating the roads with other cars and the streetcar can be a bit of a challenge."Oh my gosh, when I first moved here I was so confused as to what exactly happened," said Katie Weyer, a resident.Breun said because the old headlights were easy to miss, it had to be changed. It cost $25,000 to change all the headlights on 66 streetcars, most of it funded with federal dollars."I go running a lot in the morning and (now that) they've got them on, it really alerts my attention when I'm not quite fully awake yet," said Katie Weyer, a resident.Breun said, "Even though some folks may have an issue from a historical standpoint, we really pushed positively to make sure there was good communication."Transit officials said they have also added signs at the streetcar lines reminding people to look both ways and strobe lights at the bottom of the streetcars.

NEW ORLEANS —

The New Orleans Regional Transit Authority has replaced old streetcar bulbs with new LED lights to avoid accidents.

RTA spokesman Derrick Breun said the new LED headlights are five times brighter than the old bulbs. He said the agency is hoping that the new lights will be hard for people to miss.

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"Too often people don't realize it's a streetcar and make a left turn. We do have the right of way and next thing you know you have an accident," Breun said.

Last September, a child was hit by a streetcar when he broke free from his mother's grasp. The child survived but authorities said it's just one of many accidents over the years.

Drivers said negotiating the roads with other cars and the streetcar can be a bit of a challenge.

"Oh my gosh, when I first moved here I was so confused as to what exactly happened," said Katie Weyer, a resident.

Breun said because the old headlights were easy to miss, it had to be changed. It cost $25,000 to change all the headlights on 66 streetcars, most of it funded with federal dollars.

"I go running a lot in the morning and (now that) they've got them on, it really alerts my attention when I'm not quite fully awake yet," said Katie Weyer, a resident.

Breun said, "Even though some folks may have an issue from a historical standpoint, we really pushed positively to make sure there was good communication."

Transit officials said they have also added signs at the streetcar lines reminding people to look both ways and strobe lights at the bottom of the streetcars.